Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 69MB. Patented Dec. 3|, I90Ir J. A. MSHER 8L W. S. HAMM.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed JanA 26, 1001.) (lo Nudel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Il 'Lo O y V l Il o No. 69MB. Patented Dec. 3l, I90I. J. A. MDSHEB & W. S. HAMM. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Jan. 28, 1901.) (llo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

MJW. y aff/y UNrrnn Sfrarns 'PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MOSHER AND WILLIAM S. HAMM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE ADAMS b "WESTLAKE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ACETYLENE-GAS GEN ERTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,173, dated December 31, 1901. Application led January 26, 1901. Serial No. 44,874. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN A. MosHER and WILLIAM S. HAMM, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Generators, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part :o thereof.

Our invention relates to generators for acetylene gas and particularly those of the socalled dry type,wherein the decomposition of the carbid is effected by feeding a decom- [5 posing agent, such as Water, slowly to the gasproducing substance, as distinguished from the Wet type, in which the carbid is dropped or immersed in a receptacle containing the fluid. The dry type has been found ob- 'ao jectionable in that when the water is delivered to the carbid such a degree of heat is developed by the sudden decomposition of the gas-producing elements as to materially damage the carbid and the gas, the former a5 being roasted and rendered less efcient for the production of gas and the latter being brought into a condition in which it readily changes its form and is deposited as a gum in the pipes and burners.

3o Experience has demonstrated that but for the above objection the dry system is very desirable, and it is the object of our invention to overcome this difficulty, the invention consisting in means for distributing the Water successively over segregated masses of carbid in finely-divided streams and insuring the substantially simultaneous contact of the Water in liquid form With the entire upper surface of the mass, generation by contact 4o of Water-vapor with the carbid being reduced to a minimum.

While it is of course impossible to utilize the chemical action in the generation of gas without having present the resultant high temperature, we have found that the high temperature which results in the injury to the carbid and the gas is due to a retention of the heat, so that the temperature becomes much greater than the initial temperature due 5o to the chemical action. By the construction herein shown and described we provide means for the rapid absorption of the heat, and thus prevent a development of the disadvantageous temperature. This is secured by the peculiar form of generator employed and particularly by reason of the subdivision of the carbid into a plurality of isolated compartments, each holding a comparatively small quantity of the material. The heat distribution is further facilitated by the large size of 6o the generating-cylinder as compared With the contracted area within which gas is generated. The water drops upon the upper isolated charge of carbid, and the chemical action, commencing at the extreme top, extends gradually downward, but is not set up to any material extent in any following charges untilthe preceding chargeissubstantially spent, so that the seat of any rapid generation of gas and consequent development of heat is 7o localized.

The means for carrying out the invention comprise in general terms a generating cell or tank, a series of isolated carbidreceptacles arranged in vertical alinement Within the chamber and spaced apart from the Walls thereof, and means for sprinkling Water over the entire upper surface of the several masses of carbid in successive order from the upper to the lower. f 8o In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of one form of generator employed for carrying out the hereindescribed method,partly in section and partly broken away to show the carbid-receptacles and the arrangement of the same. Fig. 2 is a plan View of one of the covers of the carbid-receptacles adapted to feed the Water to the carbid. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another form and arrangement of 9o carbid-receptacles. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of one of the carbid-receptacles shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the same.

^ The generating cell or tank 10, having a dome 11 and communicating with a nipple 12,

is substantially the same as that shown in Letters Patent No. 652,974, granted to John A. Mosher July 3, 1900, and the particular form of carbid-receptacle of Figs. l and 2 is Ioo o nu shown and claimed in the pending application of said Mosher, Serial No. 27,448, filed August 20, 1900.

Disposed in vertical alinement in the cell 10 are a plurality of carbid receptacles or baskets 13, the bottom receptacle resting upon a support 14 to elevate the same above the bottom of the cell or tank 10.

The form of carbid-holder shown in Figs. l and 2 consists of a bowl-shaped body resting upon a freely-perforated or foraminous base l5, having an upstanding rim or flange 16, and each of its apertures 17 inclosed by an upstanding wall or fiange 18 of less height than the rim 16.

When the carbid-receptacles are placed in the cell 10, the base l5 of each is adapted to rest upon and form a cover for the receptacle next underneath. An independent cover 20, similar to each of the others, is provided for the upper receptacle, and it will be obvious that the base or tray of the bottom receptacle has no function to perform as a cover. Each receptacle is provided with instanding lugs 21, upon which the base or tray of the receptacle immediately above rests, and with external guide lugs or brackets 22 and 23,Which engage the inner wall of the cell or tank 10, and thereby properly space the receptacles from the said wall and insure the sealing of the receptacle Within it and prevent the subsequent accidental displacement.

In Figs. 3, 4, andv is shown a carbid-receptacle of somewhat different form for securing the same results, which was our joint invention. tacle (designated by 24) is foraminous, being made of wire-netting, and its bottom 25 forms the cover for the receptacle disposed immediately below. This bottom is concave and provided throughout its area with apertured depressions 26. Vire brackets 27 furnish the means for holding the receptacles securely in place in the cell or tank and also for spacing them from the wall of the cell. A cover similar to the bottom of the several receptacles is provided for the upper one. Obviously, the perforations in thebottom of .the lowest receptacle are immaterial.

In operation water is dropped from the nipple 12 upon the cover of the upper receptacle and spreading over it percolates through, so as to reach the entire surface of the mass of carbid in that basket in liquid form simultaneously. The gas evolved of course fills the tank or cell; but as the receptacles are all spaced apart from its walls it may freely do In this instance the wall of each recep so without circulating through the masses of carbid or any of them, and hence there is comparatively little contact of the water-vapor carried by the gas with the carbid.

In the form of receptacle shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the water fills the receptacles successively, overflowing from one to the other and being delivered to each in nelydivided streams over the entire upper surface of its contents.

In the construction of Figs. 3, 4, and 5 the Water is similarly delivered, finding its way through the perforated bottoms of the receptacles.

We recognize the existence of earlier generators employing a plurality of receptacles in vertical alinement and spaced apart fromv the walls of the generating -chamber and others in which water has been sprinkledover a single mass of carbid; but so far-as We know we are the first to propose means for so sprinkling successively-segregated masses of carbid arranged in vertical alinement and around which the gas may freely circulate.

We claim as our inventionL 1. In an acetylene-generator, in combina tion, a generating cell or tank, a plurality of carbid-receptacles arranged therein in vertical alinement and spaced apart from the walls thereof, and means for sprinkling water over the entire upper surfaces of the several masses of carbid successively from the upper l to the lower.

'tical alinement and spaced apart from the' y walls thereof,- the bottom of each of the receptacles other than the lowest being perfosurface ot' the top receptacle.Y

3. In an acetylene-generator, in combination,- a generating cell or tank, a plurality of carbid-receptacles arranged therein in vertical alinem'ent and spaced apart from the walls thereof, thel bottom o f each of the re ceptacles other than the lowes-t being concave.l

. and having apertu-red depressions through- I out its entire area, and a plate-of similar form covering the upper receptacle.v

Louis K. GILLsoN, E. M. KLATCHER.

i rated through-out its entire area, and means 1for sprinkling water over the entire upper 

